Working in a library is any book lover’s dream, but one haunted by literary characters? Francie’s in heaven… until she’s forced to solve a murder before they throw the book at her.
Francie Vespertine has lived all her life in a supernatural town full of powerful witches, but her own magic is lackluster at best. The only place she fits in is the Magical Archives. Head librarian (and bookworm extraordinaire) might be a boring job… if it wasn’t for the ghosts of fictional characters haunting the shelves.
Between stopping Captain Ahab from wreaking havoc on aisle three and keeping her fussy feline familiar satisfied (he only eats wild-caught Pacific Salmon, thank you very much), Francie’s established a comfortable routine—which is just how she likes it.
Until a historian is found dead in the Non-Fiction section and Francie’s life goes from cozy to mystery.
Half the town saw Francie argue with the man only hours before he was murdered. The Werewolf Law Enforcement Brigade is eager to close the case, and with Francie as the prime suspect, she has to find the real killer or trade her beloved library for a jail cell.
She’s got a lot on her plate.
Fortunately so does Kongressman Kittles. But maybe if Francie keeps his piled high with Lobster Thermidor, then he'll get off his silk pillow and lend a paw...
This is a full-length paranormal cozy mystery novel with restless literary spirits, a fledgling middle-aged witch and a pampered pussycat in a secret supernatural town—plus a recipe easy enough for a weeknight meal yet fancy enough to please the most finicky of felines.
It was okay. I think it had a good premise that was meh in the execution. It also seems to have the beginning of a love triangle troupe that I hate, so yeahhhh I may be out.
Not the strongest first book in a cosy mystery series I've listened to, but no one of the worst or weakest either. It was OK and I liked it well enough.
The paranormal society and how its inhabitants live were my favourite things about the book, but some things were perhaps a bit too silly for me. 😅 Like the whole "Hell's Birth Canal" name and the cat, Kongressman Kittles, puking everywhere because of "hairballs" - not because he's fed steamed broccoli or Camembert with figs instead of ... you know ... cat food. (Duuuh!) 😑
Yeah, I don't want to be that person, but ... I totally am that person! Knowing that some idiot(s) out there might find it a reasonable idea to feed a real cat broccoli, I just don't like it when authors do this type of thing - magical cat or not. It's not funny to me. Just worryingly stupid. (Sorry.) 🙈
The narrator was in some ways better than the book, in my (not so) humble opinion. I'm not sure I would have stuck with the book without her effort - so her performance was really good. I kept picturing someone younger than 45 for the main character though - and perhaps even a bit spunkier than what the story actually portrayed her as. 😆
Francie started growing on me - eventually. Towards the end. But I wanted her to have more of a backbone and act more "adult", somehow. I actually assumed she was somewhere around 25, based upon how she acted, until her age (45!) was mentioned. So... Yeah. That was interesting. 🙃
Several side characters turned out to be very likeable though, so I think I'll give book 2 a chance in the future.
I enjoyed this story about witches and other paranormals living in hidden towns. I liked our characters and the degree of snark. The narrator was great!
This sounded like it was right in my lane - witches, magic, librarians and magical libraries? Should have been a perfect read for me. My library even had the audio book version so I gave it a try. Unfortunately, this just was not for me and it was a DNF within the first 10 chapters.
I found pretty much all the characters in this to be dense, annoying, wishy-washy or just plain mean. There was nobody in the book that I could connect with or like, so caring about what was happening to them also did not happen.
I'm returning this to the library. Fortunately, there are 3 new books on hold waiting to be picked up so hopefully one of them will be a better fit for me.
2022 bk 136. Cute, a cute book with a mystery attached. In this spin off of another of the author's series, we meet the residents of a small desert community that was built around an academy for witches. The mystery was pretty good and I wish I had a half star to give this book. I will probably order the sequel to follow the characters, but it is not on my absolute, positively, have to list.
This book is a super cute and cozy mystery. I enjoyed getting to meet the characters in this charming town and I look forward to starting the next book.
Francie Vespertine is head librarian of the Magical Archives. Surrounded by books she will never have enough time to read and the ghost of Captain Ahab to make life interesting. Oh, and her familiar Kongressman Kittle.
In the prologue of this book we meet Kongressman 'Kong' Kittle as he's licking tape. Yes you read that right. It's also when Francie gets a package from her Uncle Arthur, a cartographer who travels far and wide only returning home to publish and then leave. Kong tells her to burn the package but she ignores him and opens it.
The package contains an amethyst pendant, that Francie puts on. Her life is about to change.
Penny the owner of Donut O'Clock has some books she's donating to Francie's favorite cause Saguro Estates, the retirement home. When Francie goes to collect them, she finds she's running late picking up her niece, Sophie at the academy. As she's leaving, she has an altercation with Professor Florian, he's been banned from the library for seven days for violating library policy by eating chocolate and drinking coffee over the old historic documents. Just a typical day for her.
After picking up Sophie, they go back to Donut O'Clock to get the book donation. When they get to the Archives the Ghost Ahab is a bit upset. It seems there's a dead body in the stacks.
The Werewolf Shifter Brigade is law enforcement here and Rend Redclaw is the Alpha of the group. He's also Francie's ex or is supposed to be. Now as much as he hates it she is the number one suspect in the professor's murder.
On top of that a message from her Uncle Arthur says only 'destroy the six cursed books'.
Now the fun begins as Francie and Kong try to find a killer and cursed books as well. Oh, and there's even some curious things happening with the Academy.
We meet many characters in this book, and all will play a part at some point or another.
I truly enjoyed this book. It was a steady growth of information as the pieces come together and possibly a new romantic suitor for Francie.
I am already reading the next book in this series.
I really enjoyed this quirky little mystery set in a hidden town full of witches and other paranormals. The story balanced the supernatural with a classic whodunit vibe in a way that felt fresh and fun. The mix of snarky dialogue and the slightly offbeat setting kept me entertained throughout, and the plot twists had just the right amount of surprise without feeling forced or outlandish. There were plenty of suspects, which made piecing together the mystery all the more engaging.
The characters were a highlight for me. They felt real enough to care about, with distinct personalities and motivations, especially our main sleuth whose sharp wit added a lot of charm. Even the side characters had their moments, each with plausible reasons to be involved in the murder, which kept the tension high and the guessing game interesting. I liked that the story didn’t rush through any part of the mystery — the balance between the investigation, the quirky town life, and the paranormal elements was well maintained.
Themes of trust, secrets, and community ran smoothly beneath the surface, adding some depth without overshadowing the fun. The setting of a small, secretive town tucked away from normal life gave the perfect backdrop to a story where nothing is quite what it seems. The writing style was easy and engaging, flowing well enough that I flew through the book in no time.
Overall, it was a clever blend of cozy mystery and paranormal fantasy that worked well together. The ending caught me off guard in a good way, which is always a win. I’d definitely pick up more from this series and see where the author takes the characters next.
In a Nutshell The story introduces us to Francine, an archivist in a secret supernatural town whose life is upended when she receives a mysterious, powerful amulet. When a local bookseller is found dead under a collapsed bookshelf, Francine suspects foul play. To solve the mystery, she must rely on her cool cat familiar and her mentor—the wonderfully wacky and wicked Hortensia. The book is unique in its plot, which is set to span at least six books, and I loved the inclusion of the ghosts that inhabit the archives.
My Thoughts I’ve given this 4 stars primarily because the plot is so refreshingly unique. As with Skye Sullivan’s other work, the writing flows beautifully and the pace is spot on. However, the real heart of this book for me was the supporting cast. Hortensia is easily the best character; she is delightfully eccentric, a bit wicked, and completely entertaining.
I also have to mention the Twin Mechanics—they are such fun, "out-there" characters who add to the town's quirky charm. The cat familiar, Cong (short for Congressman), is very interesting, especially with the twist to his abilities. While the protagonist, Francine, can be a bit "soft" and scared at times, she is incredibly kind with a strong sense of fair play. This inner strength makes her very likeable, and the chemistry between the whole group makes the book a pleasure to read.
Verdict A well-paced and very smooth read. The unique plot and the wacky antics of characters like Hortensia and the twins make this a must-read for fans of the genre. I am definitely looking forward to more mischief in the next instalment, which I am off to read now!
This was just not for me. The story was too slow and didn't really get anywhere before going off in another direction. It was almost as if the author couldn't decide what the story was about and throw everything in, in the hopes that an entertaining story would come out. Sorry too much going on and I struggled to finish. There was some good points like the ghost of Captain Ahab haunting the library was a lot of fun and full of mischief. I liked the characters just wished the author put more time into the mystery than the romance angle. Francie as the one in her family with the least magical powers she is quite happy to take care of the local library, where only books suffer from her spells backfiring. Until she has an argument with an historian and banning him from the library puts her at the top of the suspect list when he turns up dead. Everybody in town knows about he argument including the The Werewolf Law Enforcement Brigade, who she has a past relationship with. The death also caused the magic school to cancel the try outs and with her own niece effected by it and Francie's own freedom in danger she has no choice but to try and solve the murder herself. Even if the only way to get her stubborn familiar to take his medicine and help her investigating is to promise to try harder with her magic lessons. I liked the narrator. She did some entertaining voices.
I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, especially Francie, Kong, and Sophie. I liked how so many people had a motive for murder, and even though the truth was a little out there in terms of plot twists, it wasn’t too jarring of a conclusion. I didn’t see it coming, but not in a bad way. I like how there were a lot of different elements throughout the story, and I thought the balance between focusing on the hardcovers, the homicide, and the hairballs went very well. No one plot point was over or under explained. I enjoyed it and I recommend reading this book if you like mysteries with some humor. I’m voluntarily reviewing this book after receiving a free copy.
I'm always torn when it comes to cozy mysteries. I love the "cozy" part of them, but am seldom terribly fond of the "mystery" part as they tend to focus on amateur sleuths and are seldom very realistic. This was no exception, but as it takes place in a town with paranormal creatures anyway it didn't bother me quite as much as it sometimes would. Especially as I did grow very fond of most of the characters.
It's the first in a series, but works well as a stand-alone novel too, so I think I'll leave it at this.
I received this as a advanced reader copy for a honest review from Hidden Gems. I liked it for the most part. It was well written with only a few minor typos. The characters were fun and I liked the story. I had a few moments where I was yelling at the main character because I had issues with some of the things that she didn't do. It seems like it's going to be a series so I'll be reading the next one.
I enjoyed this mystery. Francie is an archivist witch. She has a murder to solve, and she must find and destroy a cursed book. The plot and characters are good. Her familiar cat is spoiled, and the "ghost" of Capt. Ahab haunts her library. I like the humor and the academia politics. The story kept me guessing who the murderer was. I will be reading the next book
I positively loved the whole idea of this series! It had a fantastic story line and the characters were great! I like the concept of literary ghosts in a magical library. Captain Ahab had me laughing out loud. But, of course, as usual, my favorite character is Kong. He's so full of himself, yet so lovable! This is going to become another series I'll definitely continue reading! I absolutely enjoyed this 1st book!!!!
Very interesting paranormal story about Francie Vespertine that only fits in the town as the Magical Archives as the Head Librarian (I would like a job like this). A historian is found dead in the non-fiction section and Francie is a suspect because she argued with the historian just a few hours before his death. I laughed about how Francie's talking cat talks to her during the whole investigation and the Werewolf Law Enforcement Brigade in charge of the case (very interesting combination).
This was cute! I really liked Kong (surprise, my fave is the snarky cat with witch powers...) and the murder mystery was fun. Not a big fan of the needlessly shirtless werewolves (really...? 😧) but I've never been a dog person. If I had one complaint besides the dogs, it would be that the whole thing was kinda lacklustre. Even the action sequences felt a bit bleh. But, it's the first in the series. It'll be interesting to see if it finds its feet later.
Ahoy there mateys! This is the first book of the Library Cat Magical Mysteries series. The idea of libraries and magical cats is why I picked this up. I thought it was mostly okay. I liked the concepts and the characters were fine. My favorite character was the ghost of Captain Ahab who did make me laugh a lot. The plot, however, did not make me want to pick up the other five books in the series. Arrr!
The story has all the elements, but it pulls them together in a way that is tired. I went along for the ride for book one, although I cannot say Francis and Kong can keep my interest for the next one in the series. If you need a quick week and read, I think you'll like this one. Don't expect plot miracles, but it is a fun diversion.
I needed something lighthearted. Even though this is basically a murder investigation it is an easy read that doesn't make you invest your heart. It's warm, cute and fun. Reading it is like sitting in your easy chair after a grueling day at work with an affectionate pet in your lap. I'm definitely reading the rest of the series.
This was a fun book to read. I was hooked from the first page on. The storyline was great. I loved the characters. It was funny. Suspenseful. Overall a great book. If this is a series I definitely want to read more.
Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Introduction of a witch who has a difficult time being a witch and her familiar who Is trying to help her reach her potential as a witch and protect her from harm as she looks for an answer to a crimes she is accused of committing
An entertaining start to a new to me series. The book has a captivating storyline, wonderful characters, suspense and humour, and a dash of romance. Francie and Kong stole my heart, I loved their interactions and witty banter.
Really cute cozy. The paranormal was fun but not over done. Tye characters were well written and I especially enjoyed Captain Ahab, well his ghost anyway. He had me laughing out loud. The mystery was good. I am not sure it was solvable but it was enjoyable. Plus the cover was so cute.
I was a bit leery about reading this book that I received from a book club by mail due to the poor reviews. However, I rather enjoyed this first book in the series and will be buying more. It's a cute light read, that's fun and not so easily solved at the same time. I look forward to more.
Unfortunately, this book was not my favorite. I always enjoy a good murder mystery, but this one was a little slow for me. My 12 yo daughter did enjoy it, so maybe it's just meant for a younger age range, but it does have some adult comments.
three of my favorite things! Bobbi sent me here from her 9 book series with promises of more clean fun, magic, scurrilous villains, & enough food that I personally gained a pound.